Brutal and unflinching at times, the subject matter of The Birth of a Nation is steeped in sincerity. Dating back to pre-Civil War, Nate Parker’s directorial debut does not shy away from a time where those who were oppressed by racial injustice had no hope. You’ve seen movies centered around slavery before. You’ve seen the muted colors that paint a dark, grim picture of this historical time period. And while it might feel familiar, The Birth of a Nation’s revolutionary story about one man’s faith turned upside down to the point that vengeance is his only answer to injustice results in a powerful message that is not just vital, but also resonates with how we move forward in the present. Read more

How does one follow up a year that kicked everything off with the astounding Deadpool, freaked us all out with the masterful The Witch and then made us laugh to tears in a Sausage Party? You make a list and exclude the annual Star Wars flick – that’s how. I did it in 2015 and I’ll do it again dammit.